Rail firm offers more £1 routes

South West Trains says 1,700 low fare tickets a week will be available

South West Trains has extended its budget ticket scheme which allows passengers to travel for just £1.

The company launched the Megatrain service in November 2005 by slashing off-peak prices between London and Portsmouth and Southampton.

Every week, 1,700 low fare seats will be available on the additional routes linking London with south west England.

The new destinations include Bournemouth, Weymouth, Exeter, Salisbury, Yeovil, Bath and Bristol.

Ian Dobbs, chief executive of Stagecoach Group's rail division, said: "We are delighted at the response of passengers to megatrain.com and these new routes will bring cheaper fares to thousands more people in the south and west of England."

He said there was "significant potential" to expand the idea beyond SWT to "other parts of the UK rail network".